Gambling addiction and casino responsibility

[metaxa]

One thing I have noted is that many casinos have software that automatically locks an account after 3 wrong password attemptes - MG casinos do for sure.

this doesn't works at MG Casinos. The software blocks your account after 3 false password entries only for a couple of hours or less. It's shortly after that open again.

I'm a VIP at two MGs. Both are fully Ecrogra accredited and advertise with the Label. I thought, I ask for monthly deposit limits to manage my spending better. It's an eGAP requirement to offer those limits.

Lucky Nugget, Bellerock Group, acted very quickly and they set the deposit
limit as I wished within a day. Kudos to them.

The other casino said something like "Sorry, we don't have this facility." So either its a liar or they really don't have it, what would be against the Ecogra rules. So far I thought, its a standard facility at all MG Casinos, might be that I'm wrong.

[silcnlayc]

Honestly within oneself is the only way you can stop. Many of us have chosen to modify our behaviour by different means as the CM has posted in the front of his site, because in reality, many of us do NOT want to quit gambling, just lessen the damage it incurs.

Going cold turkey is definitely the only way to go if you really want to stop, but this is where honesty must come in within yourself. If you continue to open accounts after closing many, then you really do not want to quit, otherwise you would have gone "cold turkey" like I said.

the total responsibility rests with the addict alone.

I agree with this totally. Be truthful with yourself. Then look for ways to either quit or modify your behaviour. That is a start and has worked for many of us. I too, came from a compulsive gambling environment and I too have these tendencies, but I choose to modify it instead of quitting completely because I enjoy it too much to give it up completely.

Hopefully you will read through our trials and tribulations posted with gambling addictions and learn about yourself from this.

No one can fix you except yourself. Good luck!

.

[misskimber]

Hope no one thinks the following is an attempt to come off as "special".

I know addictions. Gambling addiction can be very powerful and instantly destructive. By definition an addiction is a relationship with a mood or mind altering experience whereby the loss of control of the rate and frequency has occured resulting in "life damaging" consequences.

The addiction is not in the activity, subtance or experience, but in the person. Addiction is not a moral defect of character nor is it a sign of weakness. Some of the strongest people I've ever met were addicts, once.

Without judgement and without harshness, attempting to block the "supply" in an attempt to control the compulsion has rarely worked, and though I applaud the industry's sensitivity to this issue, the total responsibility rests with the addict alone.

Recovery is different for each person as the motives to indulge are different for each person. But only that person can say if they are a gambling addict. if I say I am a gambling addict, I acknowledge my powerlessness over it.

There is an old axiom among addicts of all kinds:

One is too many and a thousand never enough.

There is also no quick fix for any real addiction, sorry to say. The only tenable solution is total abstinence. This is a hard concept for many.

I admire the ability to openly admit, but I balk at any attempt to hold liable other than self for the "problem". Addicts are not victims anymore than they do what they do intentionally. In other words, there simply IS no external fix.

Gambling establishments do not intentionally market a predatory commodity. Evidence of this can be seen by the vast majority who know when to stop.

But to an addict, there is this constant (but not irreversable) dual process of both blame and denial. No one else is or can be responsible for recovery but self.

In my opinion, asking for an account to be closed in order to curb my addiction is like e-mailing Hostess and asking them not to sell Twinkies within a hundred miles of my house.

All the best...............

Frankly, this sort of reeks of "kicking a person when they are down" syndrome. Great for you...you can control your gambling. Telling me and/or people who HAVE a problem with it however, that we just need to take personal responsibility for our actions is a completely moot/mute effort. I KNOW that already..and frankly don't need you reiterating it. But, hey. You got NOMINATED. Bravo. I'm sure it made your day! You're big man on campus.. Don't dislocate yer shoulder patting yourself on the back, there...

Anyway, just wanted to say that the reps at both casinos have been very diligent with the situation. As I said at the interim and since...I only hold MYSELF responsible and know I am the only one who can fix this problem I have. My beef is and was the fact that I very succintly asked for my accounts to be locked--as I was a danger to MYSELF--and they were not, at least not immediately. If I was staggering in a bar and begged the bartender to cut me off, I would hope he would. If I had a pill popping problem and begged the doctor to stop giving them to me I would hope he would. This is the only point I am making here, or was making in even bothering to post about it. That and just trying to set a precedent of sorts, like there is no going back now...I've outed myself, at least in my own head.

That said, I believe that the casino shortcomings were more due to errant reps handling the situation at the time and NOT the casino's themselves.

[silcnlayc]

like there is no going back now...I've outed myself, at least in my own head.

That is definitely a start. Now to find a way to go about what will actually work for you. Total abstinence, or behaviour modification. Hopefully you will learn this soon, but whatever you find that works for you, you can always come here for support.

Many of us have been or are there, at the stage you are at. This forum has helped many to see what it is that helps to keep one from self destruction

.

[vinylweatherman]

Hope no one thinks the following is an attempt to come off as "special".

I know addictions. Gambling addiction can be very powerful and instantly destructive. By definition an addiction is a relationship with a mood or mind altering experience whereby the loss of control of the rate and frequency has occured resulting in "life damaging" consequences.

The addiction is not in the activity, subtance or experience, but in the person. Addiction is not a moral defect of character nor is it a sign of weakness. Some of the strongest people I've ever met were addicts, once.

Without judgement and without harshness, attempting to block the "supply" in an attempt to control the compulsion has rarely worked, and though I applaud the industry's sensitivity to this issue, the total responsibility rests with the addict alone.

Recovery is different for each person as the motives to indulge are different for each person. But only that person can say if they are a gambling addict. if I say I am a gambling addict, I acknowledge my powerlessness over it.

There is an old axiom among addicts of all kinds:

One is too many and a thousand never enough.

There is also no quick fix for any real addiction, sorry to say. The only tenable solution is total abstinence. This is a hard concept for many.

I admire the ability to openly admit, but I balk at any attempt to hold liable other than self for the "problem". Addicts are not victims anymore than they do what they do intentionally. In other words, there simply IS no external fix.

Gambling establishments do not intentionally market a predatory commodity. Evidence of this can be seen by the vast majority who know when to stop.

But to an addict, there is this constant (but not irreversable) dual process of both blame and denial. No one else is or can be responsible for recovery but self.

In my opinion, asking for an account to be closed in order to curb my addiction is like e-mailing Hostess and asking them not to sell Twinkies within a hundred miles of my house.

All the best...............

If an alcoholic "outed" themselves to those around them, they would expect support and understanding. They would NOT expect those around them to keep offering to buy them a drink. This, however, is similar to what those casinos that send further offers to a player that has asked for their account to be closed are doing.

If an alcoholic knew the landlord of his local pub well, by name, and the landlord knew the alcoholic by name, where he lived, etc - and the alcoholic begged the landlord never to serve him another drink no matter what; would you expect the landlord to serve the alcoholic the next time he came in and asked for hard liquor (or even soft liquor). This is similar to the situation when a casino reopens (or fails to close) the account of a compulsive gambler on request, or who allows them to play the next time they try.

The ONLY situation in which it is unreasonable for the alcoholic to expect assistance is if they went to a pub where no-one knew them, and started drinking. This is similar to where the compulsive gambler opens new accounts at casinos that have nothing on record indicating the player is a compulsive gambler, here, it is not reasonable to expect the casino to "just know".

However, both the pub trade and online casinos can increase the level of support they offer to addicts by operating a shared self-exclusion database. Rather than asking individual pubs (or casinos), the addict enters themselves on the exclusion database. This will allow the industries to give the best help they can, and make it far harder for the addict to indulge themselves with "just the one", which invariably leads to "just as before".

The addict is left with the responsibility to cooperate with the help they are being given, confident that if they have a moment of weakness, there will most likely be someone around who can help, rather than supply.

[kenneth2816]

Frankly, this sort of reeks of "kicking a person when they are down" syndrome. Great for you...you can control your gambling. Telling me and/or people who HAVE a problem with it however, that we just need to take personal responsibility for our actions is a completely moot/mute effort. I KNOW that already..and frankly don't need you reiterating it. But, hey. You got NOMINATED. Bravo. I'm sure it made your day! You're big man on campus.. Don't dislocate yer shoulder patting yourself on the back, there...

Anyway, just wanted to say that the reps at both casinos have been very diligent with the situation. As I said at the interim and since...I only hold MYSELF responsible and know I am the only one who can fix this problem I have. My beef is and was the fact that I very succintly asked for my accounts to be locked--as I was a danger to MYSELF--and they were not, at least not immediately. If I was staggering in a bar and begged the bartender to cut me off, I would hope he would. If I had a pill popping problem and begged the doctor to stop giving them to me I would hope he would. This is the only point I am making here, or was making in even bothering to post about it. That and just trying to set a precedent of sorts, like there is no going back now...I've outed myself, at least in my own head.

That said, I believe that the casino shortcomings were more due to errant reps handling the situation at the time and NOT the casino's themselves.

My comments were not directed at you personally, so feel free to take them or leave them as you wish. I do not have any control over who nominates a post, but I don't see this as anyone taking sides.

I responded to a thread entitled "gambling addiction and casino responsibility"

The two operative words being "addiction" and "responsibility."

To me, the entire premise of asking to have accounts locked works like this:

Once I've made the request, I've given my power away. I have an obligation to continue "checking" to see if the account has been closed. Eventually, I will keep "checking" for what I consider a reasonable time, and if I find an account has not been closed, I take this as "permission" to gamble because it is not my fault someone else dropped the ball. Then I can become angry with the casino.

Rhetorical or hypothetical scenarios about what should be done by whom in which circumstance make nice mental exercises. It is the nature of an addict to find an easier, softer way. The ony responsibility I expect from a casino is to pay me if I win.

It has been stated in this thread that if a person goes into a bar and asks not to be served, there is an expectation that his wish be honored.

The real question is, who has ultimate repsonsibility if he gets a drink put in front of him anyway?

What if the doctor writes one more perscription because he thinks you are too emotional and need a sedative?

Again, I am speaking for myself when I say I am an absolute believer in free will. Addiction does not relieve me of bearing personal accountability for my own choices. I see addicts go to jail everyday for their choices.

If I say I take full responsibility for my gambling addiction, I've revealed no great new "truth" to the world. I can expect "slips"; they are a normal process of recovery, but I do not HAVE to have one.

If I find myself at a bar, it isn't because my car turned into the parking lot on its own.

Call me militant or even mercenary. If my words cause anger, that may not be so bad. Anger is the emotion of self preservation, when properly applied.
It can propel one into action.

Misdirected anger or fixing blame only keeps me hooked into the cycle.

The bottom line is that if someone else had caused as much damage in my own life as I have, I'd kick their ass.

[just play]

My comments were not directed at you personally, so feel free to take them or leave them as you wish. I do not have any control over who nominates a post, but I don't see this as anyone taking sides.

I responded to a thread entitled "gambling addiction and casino responsibility"

The two operative words being "addiction" and "responsibility." There are many kinds of addiction, some we cannot control. I have panic disorder/agoraphobia and take prescribed medication, am I addicted to this medication? Of course I am, that is why I can never stop cold turkey as it can lead to seizures among other things. You are lumping ALL addictions together, when many addictions are not the same.

To me, the entire premise of asking to have accounts locked works like this:

Once I've made the request, I've given my power away. I have an obligation to continue "checking" to see if the account has been closed. Eventually, I will keep "checking" for what I consider a reasonable time, and if I find an account has not been closed, I take this as "permission" to gamble because it is not my fault someone else dropped the ball. Then I can become angry with the casino.

Casinos are supposed to take gambling addiction very seriously, but imo they do not. As seen by what has happened to the OP. The account should be closed immediately upon request. If I asked for my bank/cable/phone account to be closed it happens immediately, why not a casino?

Rhetorical or hypothetical scenarios about what should be done by whom in which circumstance make nice mental exercises. It is the nature of an addict to find an easier, softer way. The ony responsibility I expect from a casino is to pay me if I win.

It has been stated in this thread that if a person goes into a bar and asks not to be served, there is an expectation that his wish be honored.

The real question is, who has ultimate repsonsibility if he gets a drink put in front of him anyway? This is a different scenerio. When you have alcohol in you, your mind/body isn't in control like it would be if you were sober. If you are at a bar and you are already drunk, the bartender has the ultimate responsibility. If you walk into a bar straight, you have the responsibiliy.

What if the doctor writes one more perscription because he thinks you are too emotional and need a sedative?

Again, I am speaking for myself when I say I am an absolute believer in free will. Addiction does not relieve me of bearing personal accountability for my own choices. I see addicts go to jail everyday for their choices.

If I say I take full responsibility for my gambling addiction, I've revealed no great new "truth" to the world. I can expect "slips"; they are a normal process of recovery, but I do not HAVE to have one.

If I find myself at a bar, it isn't because my car turned into the parking lot on its own.

Call me militant or even mercenary. If my words cause anger, that may not be so bad. Anger is the emotion of self preservation, when properly applied.
It can propel one into action. I believe in "tough love" that's what I think you are using here, but it doesn't always work. In this case the OP was asking for a simple request, "close my account" and it didn't happen. Could she have more self control? Sure. But this was her first step to help control her problem, it should have been handled differently imo. I respect the OP for posting her problem out in the open for all to see. I for one am rooting for her and hoping that all of us at CM and her friends and family help her, not "read her her rights".

Misdirected anger or fixing blame only keeps me hooked into the cycle.

The bottom line is that if someone else had caused as much damage in my own life as I have, I'd kick their ass.

Good luck to you Misskimber, I am wishing the best.

[kenneth2816]

Good luck to you Misskimber, I am wishing the best.

Panic disorders and agorophobia are often treated with medications that can be addictive, but its a trade-off situation. I've nevr experienced either, but know those who have. If the medication, taken as perscribed, offers a better qaulity of life than without it, I don't see this as "addiction" anymore than I would see one who is diabetic being "addicted" to insulin.

Opinions vary. I'll respect yours while I choose to stick with mine.

[DiamondGeezer]

OP I don't get this blocking accounts idea atall. Why not close them for good?

I mean if you had an alcohol problem and banned yourself from all pubs in your town why on earth would you go into them to check you were banned? 'Oh the Landlord's on a week's hoiday? Thanks I'll have a double scotch then'. It's self defeating.

If my gambling spiralled out of control I would have no chance. There are three bookies within five minutes of my house. I have a racetrack only three miles away and lottery tickets are available in just about every fifth store. And that's before I've gotten to the internet.

I accept the casinos not blocking your accounts was a mistake on their part but such errors and hassles are part of normal life.

I am not aiming this at the OP but in general there is a lot of blaming others going on these days. It always seems to be someone else's fault.

[misskimber]

OP I don't get this blocking accounts idea atall. Why not close them for good?

I mean if you had an alcohol problem and banned yourself from all pubs in your town why on earth would you go into them to check you were banned? 'Oh the Landlord's on a week's hoiday? Thanks I'll have a double scotch then'. It's self defeating.

If my gambling spiralled out of control I would have no chance. There are three bookies within five minutes of my house. I have a racetrack only three miles away and lottery tickets are available in just about every fifth store. And that's before I've gotten to the internet.

I accept the casinos not blocking your accounts was a mistake on their part but such errors and hassles are part of normal life.

I am not aiming this at the OP but in general there is a lot of blaming others going on these days. It always seems to be someone else's fault.

No blaming at all. It's my fault..no one elses. I tried to log into the casinos because I wanted to gamble there. I guess if you don't have a "problem" with it you can't understand the compulsion that takes over. There is not a lot of rhyme or reason to it--and I understand how people can look at the situation and wonder WTF? Truth told...the same act of desperation that begs the casinos to deactivate is the same emotion that tries to sign back in afterwards...if that makes any sense at all.

Honestly, though...if I had NOT been able to sign back into those casinos in question I would have absolutely found another place to gamble at--no doubt about it.

I've disabled my online wallet..and since I am in the U.S. this pretty much renders me unable to fund anywhere. I've been playing in fun mode--which feeds the need for the time being. It probably isn't all that healthy...should most likely just install Gamblock and be done with it. Just not ready to do that, yet. Gamblock is a wonderful tool--have used it on my other computer. Problem is it REALLY does limit you online. I'm not the only one using this computer and suffice it to say that certain people in my house don't appreciate not being able to play their interactive games just because "I" can't control myself.

So, for now it is therapeutic (sp) to check back on this thread. Perhaps in a few months I will see how far I've come?